The Nether World eBook

CHAPTER XXXIII

A FALL FROM THE IDEAL

Joseph Snowdon waxed daily in respectability.
He was, for one thing, clothing himself in flesh,
and, though still any. thing but a portly man, bore
himself as becomes one who can indulge a taste for
eating and drinking; his step was more deliberate,
he no longer presented the suppleness of limb that
so often accompanies a needy condition in the man
of wits, he grew attentive to his personal equipment,
he was always well combed and well shaven, and generally,
in hours of leisure, you perceived a fragrance breathing
from his handkerchief. Nor was this refinement
addressed only to the public. To Clem he behaved
with a correctness which kept that lady in a state
of acute suspicion; not seldom he brought her a trifling
gift, which he would offer with compliments, and he
made a point of consulting her pleasure or convenience
in all matters that affected them in common.
A similar dignity of bearing marked his relations with
Hanover Street, When he entered Jane’s parlour
it was with a beautiful blending of familiarity and
courtesy; he took his daughter’s hand with an
air of graceful affection, retaining it for a moment
between his own, and regarding her with a gentle smile
which hinted the pride of a parent. In speaking
with the old man he habitually subdued his voice,
respectfully bending forward, solicitously watching
the opportunity of a service. Michael had pleasure
in his company and conversation. Without overdoing
it, Joseph accustomed himself to speak of philanthropic
interests. He propounded a scheme for supplying
the poor with a certain excellent filter at a price
all but nominal; who did not know the benefit to humble
homes of pure water for use as a beverage? The
filter was not made yet, but Lake, Snowdon, & Co.,
had it under their consideration.

Michael kept his room a good deal in these wretched
days of winter, so that Joseph had no difficulty in
obtaining private interviews with his daughter.
Every such occasion he used assiduously, his great
end being to possess himself of Jane’s confidence.
He did not succeed quite so well with the girl as
with her grandfather; there was always a reserve in
her behaviour which as yet he found it impossible
to overcome. Observation led him to conclude that
much of this arose from the view she took of his relations
with Sidney Kirkwood. Jane was in love with Sidney;
on that point he could have no doubt; and in all likelihood
she regarded him as unfriendly to Sidney’s suit—­women
are so shrewd in these affairs. Accordingly,
Joseph made it his business by artful degrees to remove
this prepossession from her mind. In the course
of this endeavour he naturally pressed into his service
the gradually discovered fact that Sidney had scruples
of conscience regarding Jane’s fortune.
Marvellous as it appeared to him, he had all but come
to the conclusion that this was a fact.